Who Should be the Clippers’ Next Coach?

It’s a great list, one that offers many different styles, as you said. I, personally, would go with the approach that Gordon, Griffin and this year’s pick need to develop, not try to cater to Baron or go after a big name just to make a splash.

They need a leader that a star player can listen to and follow up on plays. its the lack of motivation that they need to work on and a well known coach might do the trick.

One thing notable to mention is that it appears that the owners want to turn it around and want to win. (not like 10yrs ago or less.)They believed in dunleavy and granted him most of his wishes. Lets hope they can put all the pieces together.
Baron davis said ‘I have never in my life had to learn so many plays. and that’s because the clips want to turn it around. At least that’s what i want to believe.

That’s an awesome list. It’s just very hard to predict who the Clippers will go after this summer to be their head coach. There’s so many potential candidates out there, but only one will be offered the job. This is what makes the off-season so exciting. Every decision the Clippers make, whether it’s the draft pick, the free agency period, and the coaching search will determine the future of this team. It’s put up or shut up time for the Clippers, and as a Clipper fan, I’m very excited to see what we do this summer.

The Clippers have to get rid of Davis. He’s going to be toxic for any coach they hire. Many coaches (Including Kim Hughes) will do well with good players and good team chemistry. No coach would do well with the Clippers’ current players and with the toxic team chemistry Davis has caused the last two seasons. If he stays, it’s three more seasons of the same junk regardless of who coaches.

Davis demands the Clippers play a no-defense, free flowing offense style. If he doesn’t get his way, he tanks the games and attacks the coaches in the press.

That no-defense, free flowing offense style dooms them to mediocrity at best. It doesn’t matter who the coach is.

Kevin, really nice work. I would love to see a visionary choice like the last listed, David J. He seems to have the perfect pedigree for the next “it guy” in NBA coaches. Therefore, we can be sure Sterling would never consider him. I’m certain the Clippers will go old school with Van Gundy. Decent choice, if he accepts. But he isn’t going to bring LeBron here any more than any other coach.

KA, you forgot the one guy that will get the job if Olshey is still running the show.

MARC JACKSON. while i would love to have JVGundy based on his track record and defense first philosophy, i believe marc jackson will be a great coach in this league. more importantly he and olshey have been good friends for ages. they are both NYC guys and have will definitely have a lot to talk about when the season ends.

Marc also gets along with the Donald. He told me a couple years ago that he would love to coach for sterling and his old team. he makes his home in LA and still has his daughter and youngest sons in school here. he is a known personality and could attract players to play for him

now for his merit, obiviously many people will trash the idea of him coaching by saying he has no coaching experience. i cannot argue this point. what i can tell you is that the winningest coach in NBA history Lenny Wilkens had zero coaching experience before he was the head coach in Seattle…the coach with the second most wins in NBA history Don Nelson had zero coaching experience before he was named coach and GM of the Bucks. in fact the coaches with the third and fourth most wins in NBA history, Pat Riley and Jerry Sloan combined for less than three full seasons of assistant coaching before they got their first head gigs. this fact has little statistical bearing on overall coaching ability.

Marc Jackson is a mover and master motivator of men. he is an ordained minister that understands what captures the heart of the modern day athlete. while he is a very religious person, he does not push his religion upon others. he will relate to these players better than any coach that has been here. after hearing the cries for john lucas to be the head man when he was hired, i believe that Marc Jackson encompasses all the positives lucas brings to the table. more importantly i believe he is a sharper basketball mind with a cooler disposition to confidently lead the group that currently constitutes the clippers roster. despite his coaching resume, the guy knows the game. he has not only played for, but started for and in most cases been the team captain and coach on the floor for Rick Pitino, Larry Brown, Pat Riley, Jerry Sloan and JVGundy among others.

i would be interested to see who he would bring in as his assistants. so much of the teaching, scouting, development and preparation that goes on behind the scenes is what truly makes a team. the majority of this is done by the assistants. in fact the top organizations in basketball have the best equipment managers, trainers, assistant trainers, etc.. if he can put together a solid staff (and afforded the resources by the owner to pay them) i would take him in a heartbeat.

i have been fortunate enough to speak with many NBA coaches including Nate McMillan, Scotty Brooks, Larry Brown, and others. any time i have mentioned Marc Jackson’s prospects of being an NBA coach, they all rave about him. just think about the possibilities.

-stay humble